Coach Todd McLellan got a very clear look at where the Red Wings are in terms of performance and mindset during the loss to Toronto. the coach hadn’t been on the ground for 24 hours before puck drop and had just the morning skate to start to get to know the players. Day number 2 was very different.
As you can see in the interviews above, along with some of my own thoughts, the coach ran a training camp type of skate and picked 2 things to focus on. Team defense and the penalty kill. The difference of that focus? If a drill was sloppy or players looked “mechanical” he’d use the whistle and some choice words to hit the reset button. Do it again, do it right.
There’s no way to know how much can sink in after a game and that practice, but the players look “alive” during the interviews. The same mechanical drought on the ice was ever present in the blank stares of post game interviews where the same questions were being asked and some variation of the same answer being given. Larkin was trying to shoulder blame and you could see the wear and tear. There are seasons of life that age a person, not just the passage of time. Larkin has certainly seen a great deal in his tenure as captain (personally and professionally) that either galvanizes or removes a leader. To his credit, #71 is in the ring for the next round each time.
Alex Ovechkin is back on the ice and looking down the road at an historic opportunity. The “Great 8” sits 25 goals from tying Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goal record that many (myself included) thought was unapproachable. Coming off of injury and in the last stretch of his career, that number still doesn’t stand as a massive roadblock. The team in Washington has expectations beyond that record, and tonight could be another rough ride for the Red Wings. The expectation is to see some accountability, adjustments, and attitudes that expect more focused effort and execution across the board. The work ethic needs to rise up, the talent gap is where it is.
Let me know your own thoughts, and there will be some post game thoughts after this tilt.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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